Media : Health related studies and reports

Let me digress from the article title for a moment and say a few general things about media.

Earlier there were actual facts.
Then came modified but still reasonable news.
Then Extrapolation was extrapolated.
And now, it is creation of news.

"Peepli Live" made an excellent effort to convey this message. Again, thanks to media, perhaps most of our population would never come to know that such movies (which deal with issues of relevance to society) do exist.

The pathetic state of media could be due to many reasons. While anything and everything becomes a BREAKING NEWS in tv news channels, newspapers are trying their best to put in irrelevant stuff in some pages dedicated to "trend", "health", "technology" and so on. I have not seen newspapers from the West, but most likely such things have been simply copied from those in so called developed countries.

If you are a reader of Times of India (TOI), you would have often found plenty of news on health related issues. It is generally hard to miss them while scanning through pages as TOI makes sure of putting really 'eye-catching' pictures associated with such news. More often than not, the pictures are totally unrelated to the context. Recent addition to the copy-cats being Deccan Herald, (DH) and there is a considerable overlap of such news articles in these two newspapers.


Listed below are some of the article titles that appeared in past few months. "Earth-shattering revelations" are reported with the help of surveys / studies. While the outcome of many studies is not just a well-known fact, some of them are quite funny as well.

I am not sure whether such studies are indeed carried out - imagining the amount of money and manpower wasted, or simply the news is being created. It would be interesting to make a survey of the practical influence of these reports on public health. Considering the sheer frequency of appearance of such articles, it would definitely bring down the cost.


Drinking water is good for Brain: TOI - 21st May 2010
'when did brain separate itself from the body?'

Happiness may come with age, says study: Deccan Herald - 2nd June 2010
'Why does everyone want childhood back?'

To shed flab, simply think you are thin. : TOI 13th OCT 2010
'..... and never stand infront of a mirror'

Sleeping with light on causes weight gain: TOI 12th OCT 2010
'..... and simply think you are thin'

New study confirms smoking, cancer link: TOI 10th OCT 2010
'I was not sure of that'

Work worries affect sleep, TOI 30th Sept 2010
'otherwise, worries are good for health'

Firm handshake indicator of long life, TOI 28th Sept 2010
'start giving firm handshakes to live longer !'

Internet causes back pain in women: Deccan Herald 19th OCT 2010
'No comments'

Sleep well for a long life!: TOI 8th OCT 2010

City life makes you immune to diseases, TOI 24th Sept 2010

Diet, exercise help heart patients, TOI 23 Sept 2010



Uhhhh...........

Cheers!

ಚಿ(ಛೀ)ತ್ರಗಳು...

1. ಕರಿಯ.. ಮಚ್ಚಾ.. ಬಸ್ಯ..
2. ರಾಮ್.. ರಾಜ್.. ಚಂದನ್... ವಿಜಯ್..
3. ಮಳೆಯಲಿ ಜೊತೆಯಲಿ.. ಮುಂಗಾರು ಮಳೆ.. ಮೇಘವೇ ಮೇಘವೇ...
4. ಅನಿಸುತಿದೆ.. ಹೊಡಿಮಗಾ.. ಯುಗ ಯುಗಗಳೇ ಸಾಗಲಿ...

ಈ ಮೇಲಿನ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಸಾಲುಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಏನನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ?

1. ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಹಳ್ಳಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡು ಬರುವ ಹೆಸ್ರುಗಳು ..
2. attendance sheet..
   
3. ಜೂನ್-ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್ ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳು..
4. ಯಾವ್ದೋ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಮೊದಲ ಸಾಲುಗಳು..

ಹೀಗೆನಾದ್ರು ನೀವು ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡರೆ ಅದು ತಪ್ಪು.. ಪ್ರಾರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದ 4 ಸಾಲುಗಳು ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು. ಕೆಲವು ಹಾಸ್ಯ ಅಥವಾ ಕೆಲವು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ರೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು-ಕಮ್ಮಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳೂ ನಾಲ್ಕರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದಾದರೂ ಒಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರುತ್ತದೆ.. ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ.. ಆ ಚಿತ್ರದ ಕಥೆಯನ್ನು ಆರಾಮಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಂಡು ಬಿಡ್ಬೋದು.. ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳ್ಬೋದು ನೋಡಿ..

ಗುಂಪು 1:

ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಷ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿರೋ ಹುಡ್ಗ.. ಯಾವ್ದೋ ಘಟನೆಯ ನಂತರ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ರೌಡಿ ಸಮಾಜಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬರೋದು.. ತುಂಬಾನೇ ಅತಿಶಯೋಕ್ತಿಯಾಗಿರುವ "ಲಾಂಗ್" ಹಿಡಿಯೋದು.. ಒಂದಷ್ಟು ಹೊಡೆದಾಟ.. ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ರಕ್ತ.. ಲಾಂಗ್ ನ ತುದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಕ್ತ.. ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕಥೆ ನಡಿತಿರ್ಬೇಕಾರೆ ಒಂದು ಹುಡುಗಿಗೆ ಇವನ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಯದ್ವಾ-ತದ್ವಾ ಲವ್ವು.. ಫುಲ್ ಸಿಟ್ತಾಗಿರೋ ಗರಂ ಹುಡ್ಗ.. ಕ್ಯೂಟ್ ಆಗಿ ಬಿಳಿ-ಪಿಂಕ್ ಡ್ರೆಸ್ ಹಾಕಿರೋ ಅವಳು.. ಒಂದಷ್ಟು ಹಾಡುಗಳು.. ಹುಡುಗನಿಗೆ ನಾಗರಿಕತೆಯ ಪಾಠ.. ಅಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಡಗನ ಮನೆಯವರಿಗೆ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ರೌಡಿಯ ಕಾಟ.. ಆ ರೌಡಿ ನ ಎತ್ತಂಗಡಿ ಮಾಡ್ಸಿ ಹುಡುಗ ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮನ್ಶ ಆಗಿ ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿ ಜೊತೆ ಮದ್ವೆ..

------ ಶುಭಂ ------

ಗುಂಪು 2:

ಕಾಲೇಜ್ ಗೆ ಹೋಗೋ ಹುಡ್ಗ.. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಒಂದು ಇಂಜಿನಿಯರಿಂಗ್ ಕಾಲೇಜು.. ಹುಡ್ಗಂಗೆ ಬಾಸ್ಕೆಟ್ ಬಾಲ್, ಅಥವ ಇನ್ಯಾವ್ದೋ ಸ್ಪೋರ್ಟ್ಸ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಚಾಂಪ್.. ಓದೋ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲೂ ಒಕೆನೇ.. ಅಷ್ಟೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಹೀರೋ-in ದು ಎಂಟ್ರಿ.. ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಜಂಭ, ಕೊಬ್ಬು.. ಅದು ಇದು ಚಾಲೆಂಜ್ ಅವರಿಬ್ರು ಮಧ್ಯ.. ಹಾಗು ಹೀಗೂ ಹುಡ್ಗ ಗೆದ್ದೇ ಗೆಲ್ತಾನೆ.. ಹುದಂದು 3-4 ಫ್ರೆಂಡ್ಸ್ ಮಾಡೋ PJ ಗಳು.. ಆಮೇಲೆ ನಿದಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಫುಲ್ ಪಿರೀತಿ.. ಅಪರೂಪಕ್ಕೆ ಫೈಟಿಂಗ್.. ಯುರೋಪ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಶೂಟ್ ಮಡಿದ ಒಂದೆರಡು ಹಾಡುಗಳು.. ಹುಡುಗಿ ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮನ ಓಕೆ ತಗೊಳಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದಷ್ಟು ಕಥೆಗಳು.. ಲಾಸ್ಟ್ ಗೆ ಇಬ್ರಿಗೂ ಕೆಲಸ.. ಮದ್ವೆ ಒಂದೊಂದ್ಸತಿ ಇಂಜಿನಿಯರಿಂಗ್ ಗು ಮುಂಚೆ.. ಇಲ್ಲಾಂದ್ರೆ ಆಮೇಲೆ..

------- ಶುಭಂ ------

ಗುಂಪು 3:

ಇದ್ರಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಡ್ಗ ಲವ್ ಮದ್ದು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಮತ್ತೇನಾರ ಮಾಡ್ತಿದಾನ ಅಂತ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗಲ್ಲ.. ಬರೀ ಲವ್ ಮಾಡೋಷ್ಟೇ ತೋರ್ಸ್ತಾರೆ.. ಮಳೆ-ಮಂಜು-ಮುಂಜಾನೆ-ಮುಸ್ಸಂಜೆ-ಹಳ್ಳಿ-ಗದ್ದೆ-ತೋಟ ಎಲ್ಲ ಇದ್ದೆ ಇರತ್ತೆ.. ಸೋನು ನಿಗಮ್ ಹಾಡು, ಮನೋ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಲಿರಿಕ್ಸ್ ೧೦೦% ಗ್ಯಾರಂಟೀ.. ಹುಡ್ಗ ಅಂತು ಹುಡ್ಗಿನ ಆರಾಧಿಸಿ, ಪೂಜಿಸಿ, ನೈವೇದ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿ, ಕೊನೆಗೆ ತಾನೇ ಮಂಗಳಾರತಿ ಮಾಡ್ಕ್ಸೋತನೆ ಪಾಪ.. ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸೈಕಲ್ ಹೊದ್ದ್ರು ಅವ್ನ ಲವ್ವು ಜಾಸ್ತಿನೆ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ.. ಹಾಂ ಇನ್ನೊಂದ್ ವಿಷ್ಯ.. ಒಂದೆರಡು ಪ್ರಾಣಿ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಹಿಂಸೆ ಆಗೋದಂತೂ ಇದ್ದೇ ಇರತ್ತೆ.. ಒಂದೆರಡು ಲವ್ ಲೆಟರ್ ಗಳು.. ಗಿಫ್ಟ್ ಗಳು.. ಆಮೇಲೆ ಫ್ಯಾಮಿಲಿ ಕಡೆ ಇಂದ ' ಟ್ವಿಸ್ಟ್ 'ಗಳು.. ಆದರೂ ಹೀರೋ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪನೂ ಹಿಂಜರಿದೆ ಅವಳನ್ನ ಗೆದ್ದೇ ಗೆಲ್ತಾನೆ.. ಮದ್ವೆ ಆಗೇ ಆಗತ್ತೆ..

-----ಶುಭಂ-------

ಗುಂಪು 4.

ಯಾವ್ದಾದ್ರು ಹಾಡು ಹಿಟ್ ಆಗಿದ್ರೆ ಅದೇ ಸಾಕಪ್ಪ ಫಿಲಂ ಮಾಡಕ್ಕೆ.. ೩-೪ ಪದಗಳನ್ನು ಆರಿಸಿ ಫಸ್ಟ್ ಗೆ ಫಿಲಂ ದು ಹೆಸರು ಡಿಸೈಡ್ ಮಾಡ್ತಾರೆ.. ಆಮೇಲೆ ಕಥೆ ಯೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡ್ತಾರೆ.. ಎಂಥ ವಿಪರ್ಯಾಸ ನೋಡಿ.. ಹೆಸರಿಗೆ ಕಥೆ ನ ಅಡ್ಜಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡದು.. ಮೊದಲೆಲ್ಲ ಒಳ್ಳೊಳ್ಳೆ ಫಿಲಂ ಪೂರ್ತಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ಮೇಲೆ ಹಾಡು ಚನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ರೆ ಅದ್ರುದ್ದು ಒಂದು ಪದನ ಅದೇ ಫಿಲಂ ಗೆ ಇಡ್ತಾ ಇದ್ರು.. ಆಮೇಲೆ ಆ ಹಾಡು title-ಸಾಂಗ್ ಅಂತ ಫೇಮಸ್ ಆಗ್ತಿತ್ತು.. ಇರಲಿ ಬಿಡಿ.. ಕಥೆನಾದ್ರು ಏನರ ಸ್ಪೆಷಲ್ ಇರತ್ತಾ ಅನ್ಕೊಂಡ್ರೆ ಅದೂ ಇಲ್ಲ.. ಲವ್ವೋ ಲವ್ವೋ ಲವ್ವು.... ಲಾಂಗೊ ಲಾಂಗೊ ಲಾಂಗು..

-----ಶುಭಂ-----

ಎಲ್ಲೋ ತುಂಬಾ ಅಪರೂಪಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದೆರಡು ಹಾಸ್ಯ ಚಿತ್ರ, ಕಲೆ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಚಿತ್ರ ಅಥವಾ ನೈಜ ಘಟನಾವಳಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಾಡಿದ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು ಬರ್ತಾ ಇವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗು ಗೊತ್ತಿರೋ ಹಾಗೆ ಕೆಲವರು ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗವನ್ನು ತಮ್ಮ ಹಿಡಿತದಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟು ತುಂಬಾ ಹಾಳುಗೆಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ 'tv9' ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದ ಒಂದು ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ

sandalwood ನ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು ಸೇರ್ಕೊಂಡು ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು ಯಾಕೆ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಹೆಸರು ಮಾಡ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ಸಮಾಲೋಚನೆ ನಡ್ಸಿದ್ರು.. ಸಿಕ್ಕಾಪಟ್ಟೆ ಮಾತು-ಕತೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಮುಗ್ಸಿ ಕೊನೆಗೆ "ನಾವು ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕಷ್ಟ ಪಟ್ರು ಯಾಕೆ ಹೀಗಾಗ್ತಿದೆ ಅಂತ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗ್ತಿಲ್ಲ" ಅಂತ ಇತಿಶ್ರೀ ಹಾಡಿಬಿಟ್ರು..

ಜನರು ಹೇಳ್ತಾರೆ.. "ಏನು ಸಾರ್ ಅಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಕಷ್ಟನಾ ಪರಿಸ್ತಿಥಿ ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊಳಕ್ಕೆ? ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಒಳ್ಳೊಳ್ಳೆದುನ್ನ ಮಾಡಿ.. ಡಾನ್ಸ್ ಕುಣಿತ ಬರದೆ ಇದ್ರೆ ಹೀರೋ ಅಗಕ್ಕಾಗಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರೆ ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಆಕ್ಟಿಂಗ್ ಮಾಡೋರು ಯಾರು ಸಿಕ್ತಾರೆ ಹೇಳಿ.. ಬರೀ ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ remake, ಇಲ್ಲಿಂದ dubbing.. ಹಾಡಿಗೂ ಕಥೆಗೂ ಕನೆಕ್ಷನ್ ಇಲ್ದೆ ಇರೋ sequenceಗಳು.. ನಾವು ನೋಡಿದ್ರೂ ಕಷ್ಟ.. ನೋಡದೆ ಇದ್ರೂ ಕಷ್ಟ... ಬೇರೆ ಫಿಲಂಸ್ ಎಲ್ಲ ನೋಡ್ತಿರ ಅಂತ ನಮಗೆ ಹೇಳ್ತಿರ"..

ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಫಿಲಂಸ್ ಬಂದ್ರೆ ನಮಗೂ ಹೇಳಿ.. ನಾವು ನೋಡ್ತಿವಿ..

------ ಶುಭಂ------

No-Be-L Prize

Of course everyone is aware of the infamous Nobel prize, given to the topmost achievement in different fields except mathematics. I always thought that it is a very serious business and I was proved wrong when they announced Nobel peace prize for Barrack Obama, the current president of the United States. I started to wonder whether a new Nobel prize has been introduced by the Royal Academy of Swiss for the outstanding achievement in giving speeches and fundas. I then clarified my doubt by glancing various newspapers, wikipedia etc., that it was indeed a Peace Nobel. I also came across a statement that he has got the award for "Not being another George Bush". Well, with my limited knowledge on what has been happening after Obama became a president, I can say that he does not appear any different from G.Bush except for giving making better speeches. I still see protesters in Iraq holding "GO BACK, U.S ARMY". I still hear about Pakistan getting military funding from U.S. I still get news reports on various military operations initiated by the U.S govt. So, how is it any different from steps taken during Bush government?

When U.S sanctioned a huge sum of military fund to Pakistan very recently, Obama made a statement that "Pakistan should not make use of this fund for terrorism against India". When he makes such statements, will Pakistan REALLY stop funding terrorist activities? Suppose such a thing happens, lets say, then Is Obama some (dont know what to fill) BETTER than GOD? Because those who have initiated and cultivated terrorism never listen to what GOD has said in Quran. Hmmm I at least hope that this is true so that terrorist activities stop receiving encouragement.

I also feel that if there are no eligible candidates for the award, it should wait for the deserved person and not giving it to somebody ANYWAY. This whole issue reminds me of Karnataka Chief Minister B.S Yadiyurappa getting honorary Ph.D from an European university.

When we are in the Nobel Prize discussion, let me also add that lot of appraisals were received when Dr. Venkataraman Ramakrishan was awarded Nobel prize in chemistry. There were a lot of statements from his villagers and teachers that "We knew he will win the Nobel Prize one day". This is a really strong statement to make and I do not understand why people cannot make honest opinions.

ಮೊಬೈಲ್ GOD

Recently I visited Belur along with my relatives and witnessed the greatness of Hoysala Architecture. Probably the most creative and sensible engineers were born in those times. To develop chains having stone linkages, stone bangles, sculptures that can be dis-assembled and packed, perfectly symmetric and extremely intricate carvings and what not; to do all these without any machinery is simply outstanding. After a brief look of all the wonderful architecture and some 'really beautiful' sculptures, my cousin wanted to pop up nicotine level in his body which, he thought, had drastically gone down after a longer (relative sense) gap. While our uncles and aunts wanted to see God for a longer duration, we went out and took some tender coconuts, cherishing the taste that I had missed for a long time.

I thought of writing about one little funny incident that i witnessed. Mobile phone is not allowed within the temple premises. The security persons check the people at the entrance and directs them to a place where phones can be safely kept. Needless to say, it is one of the ways to make money. This reminds of so many well-known temples taking money for allowing people to have "darshan" through a 'short-cut' a.k.a 'privileged path'. It so happened once that there were more people in the "special darshan" queue than the regular one!

Anyway... There were 5-6 persons in the queue at Belur. One was asked to keep his mobile phone outside and he was not at all happy with it. A small piece of conversation is as follows.

no mobile guy: ಯೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ನ ಒಳಗಡೆ ತಗೊಂಡು ಹೋಗಕ್ಕೆ ಬಿಡ್ತಾ ಇಲ್ವಂತೆ ಮಾರಾಯ

mobile guy: ಯಾರು ಅದೆಲ್ಲ ನೋಡ್ತಾರೋ? ನಾನು ತಗೊಂಡು ಹೋಗ್ತೀನಿ, ಫೋಟೋ ತೆಗೀಬೇಕು ಒಳಗಡೆ.

no mobile guy: ಇಲ್ವಂತೆ ಕಣೋ, ಬಿಡಲ್ಲ ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ತಗೊಂಡೋಗಕ್ಕೆ

mobile guy: ಸ್ವಿಚ್ ಆಪ್ ಮಾಡಿ ತೋರ್ಸ್ತೀನಿ

no mobile guy: ಸ್ವಿಚ್ ಆಫು ಇಲ್ಲ, ಗಿಚ್ಚ ಆಫು ಇಲ್ಲ.. ಅವರಿಗೆಲ್ಲ ಬಿಡ್ತಾ ಇಲ್ಲ ನೋಡು..

mobile guy: ಯಾಕೋ?

no mobile guy: ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಇವಾಗೆಲ್ಲ ಬಾಂಬ್ ಇಡ್ತಾರಂತೆ. ಅದಿಕ್ಕೆ..

Then they go near the security

security: ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ತೆಗ್ದಿಟ್ಟು ಬನ್ನಿ ಸಾರ್. ಬೋರ್ಡ್ ನೋಡಿ ಇಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲ ರೂಲ್ಸ್ ಇದೆ.

mobile guy: ನಾನು ಆತರ ಏನಾರ ಮಾಡೋ ಮನಶಾ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಸುಮ್ನೆ ತಗೊಂಡು ಹೋಗ್ತೀನಿ ಬಿಡಿ.

security: ಆಗಲ್ಲಪ್ಪ ಅಂತ ಎಷ್ಟ್ ಸತಿ ಹೇಳದು, ಅರ್ಥ ಆಗಲ್ವೇನ್ರಿ?

mobile guy: ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಕಥೆ ಅಯ್ತಲ ಸಾರ್ ನಿಮ್ಮದು. ನಂ ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ನಾವು ಹಿಡ್ಕೊತಿವಿ. ನಿಮ್ಗೆನು ಕಷ್ಟ?

security: ನಮ್ ತಲೆನೋವು ನಮಗೆ ಇರತ್ತೆ. ಆಯಕ್ಕಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಅಯಕ್ಕಿಲ್ಲ.

mobile guy: ಒಹ್, ಏನ್ ಮಹಾ ಇವ್ರ್ದೊಬ್ರುದ್ದೆ ದೇವ್ರು. ನನ್ ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ಗಿಂತ ದೇವರೇನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಲ್ಲ. ಬೇಡ ಬಿಡ್ರಿ. ನಾ ಹೋಗ್ತೀನಿ ವಾಪಾಸ್...

!!!

French Open 2009

I am probably billionth guy writing about Roger Federer winning french open and equalling Pete Sampras's record of incredible 14 grand slams. This has been much anticipated especially after Nadal's exit to Robin Soderling who was the runner up and Federer defeated him in straight sets in the final. Federer's service was top class which he had badly missed in the tournament so far. I feel one thing that really worked to Fed's advantage was cloudy and cold weather making his past experience count. Soderling had blasted his opponents before reaching the final and the conditions in final were very different from the rest. Ball did not bounce much, was carried away by the strong wind and the court was slippery once it started to drizzle.

Well, there would be much more professional analysis of such a high-profile match and I am the least qualified to talk about it. But one thing I would like to mention is about the famous Bjorn Borg, who has won 11 grand slams (6 French open and 5 Wimbledon). Apparently he has thanked Robin Soderling for defeating Nadal. Nadal has won 4 consecutinve French open (so did Bjorn Borg) and was knocked out by Soderling in 4th round. If he had gone on to win this time as well he would have broken Borg's record by winning it 5 consecutive times and Borg has thanked Soderling for preserving Borg's record! Wow, what a sportsmanship... Records are always improved in Sports making it more interesting and competetive. A person with such a record should not say things like these. And this is not the first time Borg is doing this. In Wimbledon 2008, Federer was on his way to win 6th consecutive grass court championship and Nadal stopped him. Borg, who also had 5 consecutive Wimbledon wins, thanked Nadal for not letting Federer break his record. Anyway nobody listens to him nowadays. Current tennis is such a clean game, where a player questions umpire's decision even if it is against him.

Let the true spirit rule.

Pigeons

If there is somebody whose laziness can come close to that of Garfield, it has to be the pigeons of our campus. I have been seeing them for nearly three years now and they are probably one the laziest creatures on earth. They hardly use their wings but just sit and watch. So far I have not been able to get any information on what they watch sitting in the hot sun. Perhaps they themselves do not know. Garfield, though lazy, has always shown extreme wit and intelligence to keep itself lazy always. These pigeons are so dumb that I had to think twice before using the word 'Garfield'. Sorry Garfield, you definitely deserve much better comparisons and more sacred place to mention your name.

They find some place to s(h)it and never move from that place throughout the day. One of the funniest things I have seen is that a pigeon tries to sit on a rope (tied by students to dry clothes). Since it is not rigid, it is not possible to balance and it starts oscillating back and forth as though it is trying to fight for its survival. The same thing continues and another pigeon sits on the same rope and now both of them have to overcome additional instability of the rope caused by their movements. They are too lazy to move away and this 'dance' goes on for quite some time. Though its a funny scene, eventually I get bored, but not them. Sometimes when a male pigeon tries to go near its counterpart, the latter simply starts moving from that place in a very slow pace and the male starts following it. This terribly slow 'catch me if you can' game continues for a long time while they cover the whole roof of a hostel wing. Finally the male gives up and returns.

Every room has a balcony here and it is impossible to find a clean one. I wonder how much the cleaners have cursed these creatures for filling the balcony with loads of s.... The ventilation area has a small width where pigeons sit and some guys have covered that width with a paper/cardboard piece fixed in such a way that pigeons would slide down if they make an attempt to sit. What amazes me is that pigeons never try to make space by piercing the paper etc. Some of them even repeatedly try to sit and haplessly slide without realizing whats happening.


There are so many trees here and the pigeons seem to have not realized the fun in building nests, eating fruits / insects etc. Forget fruits, they cant even spot the food items near the place where they stay. I had kept some old biscuits and nuts on the balcony grills and for many days pigeons just flew over them, keeping them untouched. Finally a crow and a squirrel had to finish them. Once I tried to shoo them away when I saw them on my balcony and I realized that they are not just dumb but deaf as well. Nowadays I resort to some paper balls and even then, unless I hit the bull's eye they just dont move. Though "मैंने प्यार किया", "कबूतर जा जा जा ....." did not happen.

Some Unusual Prayers

What would certain people ask God in their prayers? I tend to think the following. It may be possible that I am unable to see beyond, with the limited imagination I have at my disposal.

• Private Water Supply service: More and more shortage of water for people?
• Private Hospitals and Drug stores: More and more health problems?
• Lawyers: More and more crimes?
• Restaurants: More and more lazy people?
• Computer service: User's poor knowledge about computer's functioning?
• Astrologers: More difficulties and unhappiness?
• News Channels: More crappy stuff to happen?
• Researchers: More non-sense (Eg: nano science) for getting govt. funds?

Will continue if i get more ideas.

Lets pray for good things.

सर्वे जनाः सुखिनो भवन्तु |